Gas-generating apparatus.



No. 653,495. Patented July l0, I900. E. H. WHITLUCK & A. W. BURWELL.

GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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(Apphcatxon filed Oct. 29 1898 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

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7 UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIOTT H. WHITLOCK AND ARTHUR W. BURWELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-GENERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,495, dated July 10, 1900. Application filed October 29, 1898. Serial No. 694,886. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELLIOTT H. WHITLOOK and ARTHUR W. BURWELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and'exact description, reference being had to the accom- The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out definitely in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the gas-producing apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cover for closing the end of a retort, the operating-cam disk being sectional. Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the upper end of one of the retorts, and Fig. '7 is a sectional front view of the same.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a furnace made of fire-brick or other suitable material and having in addition to its vertical walls a a a top or dome a and a floor B represents a diving-flue which is in communication at its upper end with the upper end of the furnace over the dividing-partition a, which partition is a part of the rear wall of the furnace. At its lower end this diving flue is in communication with the stack-flue F. Below the furnace is a pit I. In this furnace the vertical retorts D are secured. There may be any number of these retorts, four being a convenient number to use, substantially as shown. These retorts are preferably, cylindrical in form and may be made of cast-iron. Their lower ends extend out through the floor a and the upper ends extend through the dome a both ends being closed by removable covers C O. The

furnace is heated by means of gas-burners E, projecting through the vertical furnace-walls at different elevations and through different .rows of burners and close to the floor of the furnace are the cleaning-fines normally closed.

In the diving-flue there are as many verti- J, which are cal vaporizing-chambers as there are vertical retort-s in the furnace. These chambers are metal cylinders closed at their lower ends and extending out through the top of the flue, and they are preferably supported from above by annular collars. which rest upon the top of the flue. Connected with each of these vaporizing chambers is a pipe g, through which a regulated supply of oil is admitted to these chambers. Leading out of the top of each chamber is a pipe K, which enters the associated retort and extends centrally down the same toa point near its lower end," the lower end of said pipe being open.

In the operation of the described apparatus the retorts are heated by gas-flames substantially uniformly on all sides and from top to bottom, wherefore they are more durable and will preserve their form longer than will retorts to which the heat is applied at one point or on one side only. The surplus heat passes down the diving-flue and heats the vaporizing-chambers, with the result of vaporizing the oil therein. The vapor passes through thepipes K and out of their lower ends into the retorts. These retorts are heated to such a temperature that this vapor is decomposed and gases are formed which pass outof the upper ends of the retorts through the outletpipes M into the main N. The outlet-pipes M are connected with the retorts below their upper ends, but above the top of the furnace. The gas delivered into the hydraulic main may be subsequently treatedby any suitable apparatus or process.

\Vhenever it is desired to clean the retorts, the covers C C are removed, whereupon some of the deposits in the retorts will be burned out by reason of the draft of air which will rise through the vertical retorts, while the remainder will fall or may be brushed out of the bottom into the pit I below the furnacefloor.

The apparatus described is especially designed for making gas from oil; but to adapt the apparatus for making gas from coal it is only necessary to omit the vaporizing-chambers and the pipes K, which deliver the vapor from said chamber into the retorts, the coal in that case being placed in the retorts. The ends of the retorts are closed by easilyremovable self -sealing covers. The covers may be secured in place by any suitable means. The mechanism shown for this purpose is particularly useful in connection with the valves on top of the retorts, but is 'not so convenient or desirable for use with the lower valves, although it may be used with them. The construction is as follows: A plate R, having a centrally-tapered hole forming a cover-seat r, is secured to the ends of the retorts, which retorts have an externallybeveled annular rib d at each end. Each plate R has three or more arms r, through which the set-screws r pass obliquely, and by hearing on the beveled surface of the said rib the plates are drawn down upon the ends of the retorts. The valves are conical and fit the seat T. On the outer surface of each valve 0 are two ears 0, on which a horizontal pin 15 is secured. On each plate R is a rigid vertical standard 7 with a horizontal arm 0*. A vertical standard W is pivoted on a vertical bolt w to the opposite side of the plate R. Secured to this standard is a horizontal beam IV, on which is journaled a disk Y, having a cam-slot y. The pin 25 passes through this slot and the end of the beam engages beneath the arm 0. By turning the disk in one direction the valve is pressed against its seat and by turning it in the contrary direction the valve is moved outward from its seat, and after it has been moved outward far enough the standard XV is turned and the valve is thereby swung out of line with the retort. \Vhen both valves are moved to one side, the retorts may be cleaned.

Having described our invention,we claim- 1. In a gasgenerating apparatus, an inclosing furnace having vertical walls, gasburners projecting through said vertical walls from difierent directions and at different elevations, combined with a vertical retort'in said furnace with which said gas-burners cooperate and Which extends out through the top and bottom of the furnace, removable covers closing the ends of said retort, and an outlet-pipe connected with said retort near its upper end, substantially as specified.

2. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a vertical inclosing furnace having an interior vertical partition dividing, from the rest of the furnace, a (living-flue, there being an opening near the top of said partition connecting the top of the divingfiue with the top of the heating-chamber of the furnace, a main flue with which the lower end of said diving-flue is connected, gasburners passing through the furnace at different elevations, a vertical retort in the furnace extending out through the top and bottom thereof, a vaporizing-chamber supported in the upper part of the diving-flue, a vertical pipe in said retort open at its lower end, a pipe connecting the upper end of the vaporizing-chamber with the upper end of the pipe in the retort, means for delivering a regulated supply of oil to said vaporizing-chamber, removable covers closing the ends of the retort, and an outlet-pipe for said retort connected thereto above the furnace, substantially as specified.

3. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination of a furnace having a vertical wall and closed at its top and bottom and having an outlet-flue, a vertical retort in said furnace extending out through the top and bottom thereof, an outlet-pipe connected with the side of said retort above the furnace, a

pair of removable covers, and means for hold ing them in engagement with the ends of the retort thereby removably closing those ends, and gas-burners extending through the vertical wall of the furnace at different elevations and cooperating with the sides of the retort, substantially as described.

4. In a gas-generating apparatus, the-cornbination of a vertical inclosing furnace having a vertical partition dividing from the rest of the furnace a diving-flue, an opening near the top of the heating-chamber of the furnace into said diving-flue, a main flue with which the bottom of the diving-flue connects, said diving-flue being of less width than the heating-chamber, gas-burners on each side of the diving-flue extending through the vertical wall into the heating-chamber, gas-burners on the front side of the heating-chamber extending through the vertical wall, and vertical retorts in said furnace with the sides of which said gas-burners cooperate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto ailix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ELLIOTT H. WVI-IITLOOK. ARTHUR W. BURWELL. Witnesses:

E. L. THURSTON, PHILIP E. KNOWLTON. 

